Foot support



Oct. 9, 1928.

G.'KRAUsE' FOOT SUPPORT F1ed Ju1y 11. 1921 Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV KRAUSE, OF SCHNEIDEMUHL, GERMANY.

roo'i.1 surron'r.

Application mea :uiy 11, 1921, serial No. 483,826, and in GermanyFebruary 11, 191s.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS F THE ACT 0F MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L.,1313.)

The object of this invent-ion is to `obviate the numerous injuriousconsequences, lsuch as lat-feet, corns, calloused skin, formation ofblisters, and the like, caused by certain irregularities in the soles ofboots or shoes.

The invention is based upon the fact that endeavors made up to thepresent to produce boots and shoes which exactly fit the feet of thewearer for which they are intended l0 have been unsuccessful because theform of the boot or shoe has been determined from the foot while atrest. There are material' differences, however, between a foot at rest,which supports no load, a resting foot which l5 supports a load, amoving foot which supports no load and a moving foot which supports aload. At the moment when the load is greatest the sole of a moving foothas between the heel and the ball, a trough-shaped 0 cavity, the lengthof which is about four times as great as its breadth and which liesapproximately in the middle of the foot. The principal object of thepresent invention resides in constructing or shaping the inner sole ofboots and shoes with respect to the above mentioned cavity in the soleof the foot. In order to make the invention more clear, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveillustration of a human foot showing the sole of the foot;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section through the lower portion of ahuman foot whilst in motion, showing the cavity in the sole' Figure 3 isa plan of two superposed soles for boots and shoes, viz, the outer soleand the inner sole;

Fig. 4 is a planview of a last over which the shoe is formed;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on line V-V of Fig. 3 showing theinner and outer soles between which the inserted supplemental support isdisposed;

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on line vVI--VI of Fig,3 through the two soles and the last at the portion where the cavity inthe `sole of the foot is greatest.

The object of the invention, therefore, is to till the above-mentionedcavity and to fully support the foot especially in that momentwhen thedepth of the cavity is greatest, whereby the loaded foot is preventedfrom being straightened, making the'cavity disappear. It is not only notinjurious, but, to

I am aware of the fact that insertions for 'boots and shoes havealreadybeen recommended in order to diminish the annoyances broughtabout from any of the troubles mentioned above, but said insertions havenever been manufactured with consideration of the particular shape ofthe cavity in the sole of the foot, since, owing to incorrect shape,they do not fulfil their purpose and -reina-in permanently at the properposition in the boot or shoe. The effectiveness of the insertion dependsnot so much on whether it is attached to the inner sole so as to projectupwards into the boot or shoe, but that the insertion should be arrangedbetween the inner sole and the outer sole in a fixed position at thefoot joint, and this should be done with the aid of a last having acorresponding cavity in it and adapted to receive the insertion. To thelast is applied i'st the inner sole, then the insertion, and then theouter sole which is connected with the inner one by stitches, nails, andadhesive, or by any other means.

In order-to give the inner sole the proper convex shape in its grainedsurface at the portion of the last provided with the cavity, the innersole and the outer sole are so dimensioned as to have in the iinishedboot or shoe about the same breadth at that point where the cavity isgreatest (Figure 6), whereas the usual manner is to let the outer soleproject on both sides by about 1/2 centimeter over the inner one. Theproper dimension in the sense of this invention is that the outer soleis, adjacent the cavity, slightly smaller than is customary with bootsor shoes of the respective size, whereas the inner sole is, at the placein question, a little broader.

Figure 3 shows the inner sole 2 in its normal position upon the outersole of an ordinary boot or shoe.

The last shown in Figure 4 corresponds to the sole shown in Figure 3.The last 4 has a cavity 5 which corresponds to the portion 3 of Figure 4and the depth of which amounts lto from 3 to 4 millimeters. Figure 110 6shows the parts in their proper relative position together with, andupon, the last, 4

.Due to the fact that the shape of the moving foot differs from theshape of the boot or shoe, the latter, if of the ordinary construction,is subjected to strains which tend to change its shape. Such Change ofshape cannot take place, however, by reason of the substantially rigidconstruction of an ordinary boot or shoe, and the proper shape cannot,therefore, be obtained merely by wearing that boot or shoe. The onlyeffect is -that additional strains are placed on the material,especially at the cavity in the sole (portion between A and B, Fig. 4)and at the toes and the balls, the result being premature wear and tearof the boot or shoe. These additional strains do not exist in thepresent improved boot and shoe, its life being therefore lengthened,thereby effecting a saving in leather.

It follows that a boot constructed according to the above describedprinciple fully supports the foot and strengthens it while loaded.

Having now described my invention` what I desire to secure by a patentof the United States is 1. A boot vor shoe comprising in combinationwith its outer parts, an inner sole, an upwardly bulged middle portionformed in. said inner sole, said portion having such a configuration andposition with respect to the sole as to be adaptedcto support the archof the human foot and to correctly fill a cavity formed thereat whilethe wearer is walking, said portion extending forwardly from the heellongitudinally of the foot approximately to the middle of the sole, asubstantially inelastic insertion corresponding to the shape of saidportion extending lengthwise and under a portion of the inner sole, andan outer sole holding said insertion permanently upon said inner sole atthat portion of the foot where the cavity is formed.

2. A boot or shoe comprising in comb-ination with its outer parts, aninner sole, an upwardly bulged middleportion formed in vsaid inner sole,said portion having such a configuration and posltion with respect tothe sole as to be adapted to support the arch of the human foot and tocorrectly fill a cavity formed thereat while the wearer is walking, saidportion extending forwardly from the heel longitudinally of the footapproximately to the middle of the sole, a substantially inelasticinsertion corresponding to the shape of said portion extendinglengthwise under a portion of the inner sole, a filling material, and anouter sole holding saidv insertion and said filling material permanentlyupon said inner sole at that portion of the foot where the cavity isformed.

In testimony lwhereof I aiiix my signature.

GUSTAV KRAUSE.

